French shipbuilder DCNS, which has been facing security breach concerns afterThe Australian leaked classified data about the Scorpene submarines it designed for India, has approached the Supreme Court in Australia to seek an injunction against the daily from publishing further documents, reported PTI. It has also asked the court to direct the newspaper to delete everything about the submarine project it has put up on its website so far and wants it to hand over the remaining documents.

In the affidavit, the company said that if The Australian publishes such confidential data, it will cause harm to DCNS and its customers. DCNS lawyers said, "The publication of this highly valuable document causes a direct harm to DCNS and its customer in terms of spread of sensitive and restricted information, image and reputation."

According to IANS, a former commander of the United States Pacific Fleet Submarine Force said the leaks will hit the French company’s credibility badly. Rear Admiral (Retd) John Padgett said, “It is never good for an opponent to have your playbook."

The newspaper recently said that it had gained access to leaked pages of classified data on India's Scorpene-class submarine. Days later, it threatened to publish the data on its website. The leaked data includes specific details about the combat capability of the submarine.

Meanwhile, the Indian Navy is conducting an internal audit to eliminate the possibility of any security compromise, and the Director General for Armament of France is leading their own investigation. DCNS had said the data leak may have been part of an economic warfare strategy against the defence contractor. India had ordered six Scorpene submarines worth $3 billion (Rs 20,000 crore approximately). The first batch had started undergoing trials in May, and the first of the submarines – INS Kalvari – was expected to be inducted into the Navy in November.